JP2010036702A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device that includes a motor and a motion converting means for converting the rotation of the motor into tilting motion and telescopic motion while sufficiently securing a space around driver's feet and achieving a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The steering device is configured to execute telescopic motion for moving a steering wheel 10 forward and backward by extending and contracting a column housing 11, and tilting motion for moving the steering wheel 10 vertically by tilting the column housing 11. The rotation of a single motor 6 provided in an upper bracket 2 supporting the column housing 11 is motion-converted into the tilting motion and the telescopic motion by a motion converting means 7. As a result, spaces occupied by the motor 6 and the motion converting means 7 can be reduced, thereby sufficiently securing a space around driver's feet in a vehicle cabin, and also, achieving the configuration of the steering device with a small number of components. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus configured to cause a motor to perform a telescopic operation for moving a steering member back and forth and a tilt operation for moving a steering member up and down.

  The vehicle is steered by transmitting an operation by a driver of a steering member such as a steering wheel provided inside the passenger compartment to a steering mechanism outside the passenger compartment via a steering shaft, and operating the steering mechanism. Done. The steering shaft is rotatably supported inside a column housing attached to the interior of the passenger compartment via a bracket. The steering member is fixed to the end portion of the steering shaft that protrudes from the upper portion of the column housing so as to face the driver sitting in the vehicle interior. Conventionally, there is a steering device configured such that the position of the steering member can be adjusted back and forth or up and down by a motor in accordance with the driving posture of the driver (for example, see Patent Document 1).

The steering apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a column housing including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder that are fitted so as to be relatively movable in the axial length direction, and the inner cylinder is relative to the outer cylinder in the axial length direction. The position of the steering member is adjusted back and forth (telescopic adjustment) by moving and expanding and contracting the column housing. In addition, the steering device supports the lower portion of the bracket supporting the column housing with a support pin that penetrates in the left-right direction, and tilts the column housing about the support pin as a pivot to adjust the position of the steering member up and down (tilt). Adjustment). In this steering apparatus, these position adjustments are performed by converting the rotations of the motors provided separately to each other by means of different movement conversion means and transmitting the movement to the column housing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2501

  However, in the steering apparatus according to Patent Document 1, a motor for tilt operation and a motor for telescopic operation, and respective motion conversion means for converting the rotation of these motors into tilt operation and telescopic operation are provided in the middle of the column housing. The space occupied by the motor and the motion conversion means may cause a problem that the driver's suspension space in the passenger compartment cannot be sufficiently secured and the configuration becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and includes a single motor and motion conversion means for converting the rotation of the motor into a tilt operation and a telescopic operation, and the undercarriage of the driver in the vehicle interior An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can secure a sufficient space and can have a simple configuration.

  A steering device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a column housing that is tilted and supported by a support bracket inside a passenger compartment, a steering that is rotatably supported inside the column housing, and a steering member is attached to an upper protruding end. A telescopic operation for adjusting the position of the steering member and a tilting operation for tilting the column housing by a single motor provided on the support bracket. A steering device configured to be performed, wherein the first driven gear meshes with a drive gear provided on an output shaft of the motor, and meshes with a rack formed in the column housing, and the first driven gear A second driven gear that is rotatable in accordance with the rotation of the second driven gear, and the mode is controlled according to the rotation of the second driven gear and the restriction of the rotation. Characterized in that it comprises a motion converting means for converting the rotation of motor in the tilting operation and the telescopic operation.

  In the steering apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, the second driven gear meshes with the first driven gear, and the motion converting means connects the first driven gear and the second driven gear shaft. A second link having one side connected to the shaft of the second driven gear and having a guide hole along the longitudinal direction on the other side, a slider slidably held in the guide hole, and the slider And a third link connecting the shafts of the first driven gear, and a rotation restricting means for restricting the rotation of the second driven gear.

  The steering device according to a third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the first driven gear is integrally provided with a large gear portion that meshes with the drive gear and a small gear portion that meshes with the second driven gear. To do.

  In the steering device according to a fourth aspect of the invention, the first driven gear is integrally provided with a large gear portion meshing with the drive gear and a small gear portion having a smaller diameter than the large gear portion, and the motion conversion is performed. The means is provided between the first driven gear and the second driven gear, the large gear portion meshes with the small gear portion of the first driven gear, and the small gear portion engages with the second driven gear. An intermediate gear that meshes, an arm that rotatably supports the shafts of the first driven gear, the intermediate gear, and the second driven gear, an arm that can swing around the shaft of the first driven gear, and the intermediate gear or the second gear And a rotation restricting means for restricting rotation of the driven gear and restricting rotation of the second driven gear.

  A steering apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a restraining means for restraining the motion conversion means to the column housing so as to maintain the meshing between the second driven gear and the rack.

  A steering device according to a sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that it includes urging means for urging the motion converting means toward the column housing in order to maintain the engagement between the second driven gear and the rack.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the rotation of the single motor provided in the support bracket that supports the column housing is converted into two types of motion by the motion conversion means to perform the tilt operation and the telescopic operation. Therefore, the telescopic operation and tilting operation can be performed with a simple configuration, the space occupied by the motor and the motion conversion means can be reduced, and sufficient space for the driver's suspension in the passenger compartment is secured. can do. Further, the steering device can be configured with a small number of parts, and the cost can be reduced.

  According to the second invention, it has a simple configuration including two gears (first and second driven gears) and three links (first, second, and third links), and the first is controlled by the rotation restricting means. (2) By restricting the rotation of the driven gear or releasing the restriction of the rotation, the rotation of the motor is converted into the vertical movement of the steering member by three linked links, or the steering member is moved in the longitudinal direction by two gears. Since it is configured to perform two types of operations, a tilt operation and a telescopic operation, the space occupied by the motor and the motion conversion means can be reduced, and the driver's suspension space in the passenger compartment Can be secured sufficiently. In addition, the steering device can be configured with a small number of parts, and assembling and assembling performance can be improved, and costs can be reduced.

  According to the third invention, since the rotation of the drive gear is transmitted to the second driven gear via the first driven gear having the large gear portion and the small gear portion, the reduction ratio is increased. This makes it possible to finely adjust the position of the steering member.

  According to the fourth invention, it has a simple configuration including three gears (first and second driven gears and an intermediate gear) and one arm that rotatably supports the three gears, and the rotation restricting means By restricting the rotation of the intermediate gear or the second driven gear or releasing the restriction of the rotation, the rotation of the motor is converted into the vertical movement of the steering member by the arm, or converted into the vertical movement of the steering member by the three gears. In addition, since the two operations of the tilt operation and the telescopic operation are performed, the space occupied by the motor and the motion conversion means can be reduced, and the driver's suspension space in the passenger compartment can be reduced. It can be secured sufficiently. In addition, the steering device can be configured with a small number of parts, and assembling and assembling performance can be improved, and costs can be reduced.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the motion conversion means is restrained by the restraint means to the column housing, so that the meshing state between the second driven gear and the rack is maintained, and the telescopic operation by the rotation of the second driven gear is ensured. Can be.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the movement converting means is urged toward the column housing by the urging means, so that the meshing state between the second driven gear and the rack is maintained, and the second driven gear is rotated. Telescopic operation can be ensured.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a steering apparatus according to the present invention.

  In the figure, 1 is a steering column. The steering column 1 includes a column housing 11 having an inner cylinder 11a and an outer cylinder 11b fitted inside and outside for an appropriate length, and a steering shaft 12 rotatably supported in the column housing 11. . The steering column 1 is supported in the interior of the vehicle compartment in an inclined posture in which the middle portion and one side end portion of the column housing 11 are supported by the upper bracket 2 and the lower bracket 3 and the support side by the lower bracket 3 is directed forward. Installed.

  A steering wheel 10 as a steering member is fitted and fixed to an upper end portion of the steering shaft 12 protruding from the upper portion of the column housing 11 so as to face the front of the driver in the vehicle interior and to be able to perform a gripping operation. Yes. The lower end portion of the steering shaft 12 protruding from the lower portion of the column housing 11 is connected to the steering mechanism 5 via the intermediate shaft 4 having universal joints 40 and 40 at both ends thereof.

  With the above configuration, when the driver rotates the steering wheel 10 for steering, this rotation is transmitted to the steering mechanism 5 via the steering shaft 12 and the intermediate shaft 4, and the operation of the steering mechanism 5 is performed. Steering is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a steering assist motor 13 is attached near the lower end of the steering column 1, and a torque sensor 14 is provided inside the steering column 1 above the motor 13. is there. In this steering device, a steering torque applied to the steering shaft 12 by operation of the steering wheel 10 is detected by a torque sensor 14, a motor 13 is driven based on the detected steering torque, and the rotational force of the motor 13 is converted to a column housing. 11 is configured as an electric power steering device that transmits to the steering shaft 12 inside and assists steering. The characteristic configuration of the present invention described below can also be applied to a manual type steering device that performs steering only by the steering torque applied to the steering wheel 10 by the driver, and is attached to the steering mechanism 5. The present invention is also applicable to a hydraulic power steering device that assists steering by the generated force of the hydraulic cylinder.

  In the steering device according to the present invention, the position of the steering wheel 10 operated by the driver is moved back and forth according to the driving posture by the support structure shown below of the steering column 1 by the upper bracket 2 and the lower bracket 3 described above. The telescopic operation for adjusting (telescopic adjustment) and the tilting operation for adjusting up and down (tilt adjustment) according to the driving posture can be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lower bracket 3 and the steering column 1 are connected by a support pin 30 that is orthogonal to the axial direction of the column housing 11 and penetrates the lower bracket 3 in the left-right direction. Thereby, the steering column 1 can be tilted in a plane including the axis of the column housing 11 with the support pin 30 as a pivot.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper bracket 2 that supports the upper portion of the steering column 1 includes a fixed plate 21 that is fixed inside the vehicle compartment, and hanging plates 22 and 22 that are suspended from the fixed plate 21. Yes. The hanging plates 22 and 22 are spaced apart from each other by an appropriate length in the left-right direction so as to face each other. 2 and 3 are enlarged perspective views of the vicinity of the support portion by the upper bracket 2. A support plate 23 that is substantially parallel to the fixed plate 21 and has a rectangular hole 23a is fixed to the lower ends of the drooping plates 22 and 22. The support plate 23 is fixed to the support plate 23 such that a housing 24 having an opening on one surface is on the support plate 23 side. 2 and 3, the side of the steering wheel 10 is illustrated to be lower left, and in FIG. 3, the casing 24 is omitted for convenience of explanation.

  The housing 24 accommodates the motor 6 and the motion converting means 7. The motor 6 has an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the column housing 11 and is fixed to the support plate 23. The output shaft 60 of the motor 6 extends upward in parallel with the column housing 11, and a worm 61 as a drive gear is formed at the extended end portion.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the motion conversion means 7. 4 (a) is a front view, and FIG. 4 (b) is an arrow view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 4 (a). The motion converting means 7 includes a first driven gear 71, a second driven gear 72, a rotation restricting means 73, first links 74 and 74, second links 76 and 76, and third links 75 and 75.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first driven gear 71 is attached to a shaft 71 a that is installed in the housing 24 in the left-right direction and is rotatably supported by the housing 24. The first driven gear 71 is integrally provided with a large gear portion 71b and a small gear portion 71c having a smaller diameter than the large gear portion 71b. As shown in FIG. 71b meshes with the worm 61. One end of a rectangular plate-shaped first link 74, 74 is pivotally supported on the shaft 71 a on both sides of the first driven gear 71. In the middle of the longitudinal direction of the first links 74, 74, a shaft 72a is installed in the left-right direction, and the shaft 72a is rotatably supported by the first links 74, 74. The first link 74, 74 provided in this way connects the shaft 71a and the shaft 72a. A second driven gear 72 is fixed to the shaft 72a, and the second driven gear 72 meshes with the first driven gear 71 by meshing with the small gear portion 71c, as shown in FIG. 4B. Yes. The second driven gear 72 is meshed with a rack 11 c formed on the outer cylinder 11 b of the column housing 11 over an appropriate length in the axial direction. In the drawing, the worm 61 as a driving gear is shown as a cylinder, the first driven gear 71 and the second driven gear 72 are shown as discs, and the rack 11c is shown as a rectangular block. Is omitted.

  Rectangular shaft-like second links 76, 76 are connected to the shaft 72a of the second driven gear 72 at one end. The second links 76, 76 have guide holes 76a, 76a along the longitudinal direction on the other end side. A cylindrical slider 75a is engaged with the guide holes 76a and 76a, and the slider 75a is held by the second links 76 and 76 so as to be slidable along the guide holes 76a and 76a. Rectangular slider-shaped third links 75 and 75 are connected to the slider 75a at one end. The other ends of the third links 75 and 75 are pivotally supported on the shaft 71a. The slider 75a and the shaft 71a are connected by the third links 75 and 75 thus provided.

  One of the first links 74 and 74 is provided with a rotation restricting means 73 for restricting the rotation of the second driven gear 72. The rotation restricting means 73 includes a rotating body 73a, a solenoid 73b, and a rotation restricting body 73c. The rotating body 73 a has a cylindrical shape and is fixed to the shaft 72 a of the second driven gear 72. The solenoid 73b is provided on the inner surface of the first link 74 so as to face the rotating body 73a with an appropriate distance. The solenoid 73b includes a fixed iron core, a movable iron core arranged at a fixed distance from the fixed iron core, a coil for excitation, and a frame forming a magnetic circuit, and mechanically linearly moves electrical energy. It is an actuator known per se for driving a mechanism coupled to the movable iron core. The solenoid 73b is fixed to the first link 74 so that the movable iron core can protrude toward the rotating body 73a. A rotation restricting body 73c is fixed to the tip of the movable iron core so as to be parallel to the first link 74 and protrude toward the rotating body 73a.

  In this configuration, the initial position of the rotation restricting means 73 is in a state where the rotation restricting body 73c protrudes and is pressed against the rotating body 73a as shown in FIG. 4 (b). That is, when the solenoid 73b is demagnetized, the rotating body 73a is fixed so as not to rotate by the pressing force of the rotation restricting body 73c, so that the rotation of the shaft 72a is restricted and the second driven gear fixed to the shaft 72a is fixed. The rotation of 72 is also restricted. When the first driven gear 71 rotates in this state, the second driven gear 72 swings about the shaft 71a of the first driven gear 71 as a pivot by the action of the force applied to the meshing portion with the first driven gear 71. The first link 74 moves along with the first link 74 around the axis 71 a of the first driven gear 71. When the solenoid 73b is energized, the rotation restricting body 73c is separated from the rotating body 73a, and the rotation restriction is released. As a result, the restriction on the rotation of the shaft 72a and the second driven gear 72 fixed to the shaft 72a is also released. When the first driven gear 71 rotates in this state, the second driven gear 72 rotates according to the rotation of the first driven gear 71.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 is provided with a bracket 8 having a U-shaped cross section, and the open end side is on the side of the meshing portion of the second driven gear 72 and the rack 11c. The outer cylinder 11b is covered from above and is in contact with the second driven gear 72 and the rack 11c from the opposite side of the meshing portion. As shown in FIG. 3, second links 76 and 76 are fixed to the open end of the bracket 8, respectively. Since the second link 76, 76 and the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 are restrained by the bracket 8 so as not to move relative to each other, the second link 76, 76 is fixed to the shaft 72a to which the second link 76, 76 is connected. The column housing 11 also moves following the movement of the second driven gear 72, and the meshing state between the second driven gear 72 and the rack 11c is always maintained.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the telescopic operation by the motion converting means 7. When performing the telescopic operation, the solenoid 73b of the rotation restricting means 73 is excited, the restriction of the rotation of the second driven gear 72 is released by the rotation restricting means 73, and the motor 6 is driven in this state. As the motor 6 rotates forward or backward, the first driven gear 71 and the second driven gear 72 rotate. In response to this rotation, the rack 11c receives force at the meshing portion with the second driven gear 72, and the column The outer cylinder 11 b of the housing 11 moves in the axial direction of the column housing 11. In response to this movement, the column housing 11 expands and contracts in the axial direction, and the steering wheel 10 moves forward or backward. As described above, the rotation of the motor 6 is converted into a telescopic operation by the motion conversion means 7. The steering shaft 12 supported inside the column housing 11 is also provided with a fitting portion similar to the column housing 11 and expands and contracts as the column housing 11 expands and contracts.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the tilting operation by the motion converting means 7. When performing the tilt operation, the motor 6 is driven in a state where the solenoid 73b of the rotation restricting means 73 is demagnetized (a state where the rotation of the second driven gear 72 is restricted by the rotation restricting body 73c). As the motor 6 rotates forward or backward, the first driven gear 71 rotates, and the second driven gear 72 receives a force in a direction perpendicular to the meshing surface at the meshing portion with the first driven gear 71. By the action of this force, the second driven gear 72 moves around the axis 71a of the first driven gear 71 as described above. In response to the movement of the second driven gear 72, the rack 11c with which the second driven gear 72 is engaged receives an upward or downward force, so that the column housing 11 rotates the axis of the column housing 11 about the support pin 30 as a pivot. Tilt upward or downward within the plane of inclusion. As described above, the rotation of the motor 6 is converted into a tilt operation.

  During such a tilting operation, the first links 74 and 74 swing around the shaft 71a, and the third links 75 and 75 are provided in the second links 76 and 76 in response to the swing. It swings around the axis 71a of the first driven gear 71 in the direction approaching or separating from the first links 74, 74 using 76a, 76a as a guide. In response to the swinging of the first links 74 and 74 and the third links 75 and 75, the second links 76 and 76 are parallel to the column housing 11 in a direction approaching or separating from the column housing 11. Will move. The first links 74 and 74, the second links 76 and 76, and the third links 75 and 75 support the movement of the second driven gear 72 described above, and maintain the meshed state of the second driven gear 72 and the rack 11c. To act. In particular, when the second driven gear 72 and the second links 76 and 76 move away from the column housing 11, the second links 76 and 76 move in parallel with the column housing 11 as described above. Since a downward force acts on the outer cylinder 11 b of the column housing 11 by the fixed bracket 8, the column housing 11 follows the movement of the second driven gear 72, and the column housing 11 pivots on the support pin 30 as a pivot. It will tilt downward in the plane including the center, and the meshing state of the second driven gear 72 and the rack 11c can be kept good.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a control command is given from the position adjustment control unit 17 to the motor 6 and the solenoid 73 b of the rotation restricting means 73 configured as described above. The motor 6 is driven by a given control command. The solenoid 73b is excited by a given control command. The position adjustment control unit 17 is provided with a tilt operation signal corresponding to the operation of the tilt switch 15 and a telescopic operation signal corresponding to the operation of the telescopic switch 16.

  The position adjustment control unit 17 issues a control command to the motor 6 and the solenoid 73b in accordance with the operation of the tilt switch 15 performed by the driver to move the steering wheel 10 upward or downward, and demagnetizes the solenoid 73b and performs the motor operation. Tilt adjustment operation is performed to rotate 6 forward or backward. As a result, the steering wheel 10 moves upward or downward in accordance with the operation of the tilt switch 15 to the vertical position desired by the driver.

  Further, the position adjustment control unit 17 issues a control command to the motor 6 and the solenoid 73b in response to an operation of the telescopic switch 16 performed by the driver to move the steering wheel 10 forward or backward, and excites the solenoid 73b. Telescopic adjustment operation for rotating the motor 6 forward or backward is performed. As a result, the steering wheel 10 moves forward or backward in accordance with the operation of the telescopic switch 16 to the front-rear position desired by the driver.

  The steering device according to the present invention configured as described above includes the first driven gear 71, the second driven gear 72, the rotation restricting means 73, the first links 74, 74, the third links 75, 75, and the second link 76. , 76 is used to convert the rotation of a single motor 6 into a tilt operation and a telescopic operation using the motion conversion means 7 having a simple configuration, and thus the space occupied by the motor 6 and the motion conversion means 7 And a sufficient space around the driver's suspension in the passenger compartment can be secured. Moreover, the number of parts can be reduced, the assembly and assembling performance can be improved, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the rotation of the drive gear 61 is transmitted to the large gear portion 71b of the first driven gear 71 and is transmitted to the second driven gear 72 meshing with the small gear portion 71c, the reduction ratio is increased. Therefore, the position of the steering wheel 10 can be adjusted more finely.

  Further, since the second link 76, 76 and the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 are restrained from moving relative to each other by the bracket 8, the second link 76, 76 is fixed to the shaft 72a to which the second link 76, 76 is connected. Following the movement of the second driven gear 72, the column housing 11 also moves, so that the meshed state between the second driven gear 72 and the rack 11c can always be maintained. As a result, the downward tilt operation and the telescopic operation by the rotation of the second driven gear 72 can be ensured. Further, since the bracket 8 is only in contact with the column housing 11, the outer cylinder 11 b of the column housing 11 moves in the front-rear direction along the inner surface of the bracket 8 when the column housing 11 is expanded and contracted in accordance with the telescopic operation. Thus, the bracket 8 does not interfere with the telescopic operation.

  In the present embodiment, the bracket 8 for restraining the motion conversion means 7 to the column housing 11 is used to maintain the meshing between the second driven gear 72 and the rack 11c. A spring may be used as a biasing unit that biases the conversion unit 7 toward the column housing 11. In this case, an urging means may be interposed between the engagement portion side of the outer cylinder 11 b of the column housing 11 with the second driven gear 72 and the second links 76 and 76.

  In the present embodiment, the first driven gear 71 is integrally provided with a large gear portion 71b and a small gear portion 71c having a smaller diameter than the large gear portion 71b, and is driven by the large gear portion 71b. The gear 61 is configured to mesh with the second driven gear 72 at the small gear portion 71c. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a single gear portion is provided. You may comprise so that it may mesh with a driven gear, respectively.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a steering apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper bracket 2 a includes a fixed plate 21 fixed inside the passenger compartment, and hanging plates 22 and 22 suspended from the fixed plate 21. The drooping plates 22 and 22 are separated from each other by an appropriate length in the left-right direction so as to face each other. The hanging plates 22 and 22 are provided with tilt holes 22a and 22a each having an arcuate long hole shape over an appropriate length. Telescopic holes 11c and 11c are provided in the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 over an appropriate length in the axial length direction (front-rear direction) of the column housing 11. Guide pins 25 and 25 are inserted into the tilt holes 22a and 22a and the telescopic holes 11c and 11c. As a result, during the tilt operation, the column housing 11 tilts in the vertical direction with the tilt holes 22a and 22a as guides, while during the telescopic operation, the guide pins 25 and 25 extend along the telescopic holes 11c and 11c. The column housing 11 expands and contracts by relatively moving in the axial direction with respect to 11b.

  A support plate 23 that is substantially parallel to the fixed plate 21 and has a rectangular hole 23a is fixed to the lower ends of the drooping plates 22 and 22. A housing 24 having a single opening is fitted to the support plate 23 from the lower surface side of the support plate 23. A motor 6 and motion conversion means 9 are accommodated in the housing 24. A spring 8 a is interposed between the motion conversion means 9 and the outer cylinder 11 b of the column housing 11.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the motion converting means 9. FIG. 8A is a front view, and FIG. 8B is a view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. The motion converting means 9 includes a first driven gear 91, a second driven gear 92, a rotation restricting means 93, an intermediate gear 97, and arms 98, 98.

  The first driven gear 91 is installed in the left-right direction inside the housing 24, and is fixed to a shaft 91 a that is rotatably supported by the housing 24. The first driven gear 91 is integrally provided with a large gear portion 91b and a small gear portion 91c having a smaller diameter than the large gear portion 91b. As shown in FIG. It meshes with the worm 61 at 91b. On both sides of the first driven gear 91 of the shaft 91a, rectangular plate-like arms 98, 98 are provided so as to be swingable about a shaft 91a inserted through one end thereof. A shaft 92a is installed in the left-right direction at the other end of the arms 98, 98, and the shaft 92a is rotatably supported by the arms 98, 98. A second driven gear 92 is fixed to the shaft 92a. The second driven gear 92 is meshed with a rack 11 c formed on the outer cylinder 11 b of the column housing 11 over an appropriate length in the axial direction. In the middle of the longitudinal direction of the arms 98, 98, a shaft 97a is installed in the left-right direction, and the shaft 97a is rotatably supported by the arms 98, 98. An intermediate gear 97 is fixed to the shaft 97a, and the intermediate gear 97 is integrally provided with a large gear portion 97b and a small gear portion 97c having a smaller diameter than the large gear portion 97b. As shown in FIG. 8 (b), the intermediate gear 97 meshes with the first driven gear 91 by engaging the large gear portion 97b with the small gear portion 91c of the first driven gear 91, and the small gear portion 97c. Is meshed with the second driven gear 92. The intermediate gear 97 is configured to rotate along with the rotation of the first driven gear 91 and to transmit the rotation to the second driven gear 92. In the figure, the worm 61 as a drive gear is shown as a cylinder, the first driven gear 91, the second driven gear 92, and the intermediate gear 97 are shown as discs, and the rack 11c is shown as a rectangular block. The illustration of the teeth is omitted.

  One of the arms 98 and 98 is provided with a rotation restricting means 93 for restricting the rotation of the intermediate gear 97. The rotation restricting means 93 includes a rotating body 93a fixed to the shaft 97a of the intermediate gear 97, a solenoid 93b provided on the inner surface of the arm 98 so as to face the rotating body 93a with an appropriate distance, and a solenoid 93b. And a rotation restricting body 93 c provided in parallel with the arm 98. The rotation restricting means 93 has the same configuration as the rotation restricting means 73 of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Since other configurations are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are given to corresponding components, and detailed descriptions of the configurations and operations are omitted.

  In this configuration, the initial position of the rotation restricting means 93 is in a state where the rotation restricting body 93c protrudes and is pressed against the rotating body 93a, as shown in FIG. 8B. That is, when the solenoid 93b is demagnetized, the rotating body 93a is fixed so as not to rotate by the pressing force of the rotation restricting body 93c, so that the rotation of the shaft 97a is restricted and the intermediate gear 97 fixed to the shaft 97a and The rotation of the second driven gear 92 that meshes with the intermediate gear 97 is also restricted. When the first driven gear 91 rotates in this state, the intermediate gear 97 receives a force at the meshing portion with the first driven gear 91. By the action of this force, the arms 98 and 98 are united with the second driven gear 92 and the intermediate gear 97 to rotate about the shaft 91a of the first driven gear 91 as a pivot. When the solenoid 93b is excited, the rotation restricting body 93c is separated from the rotating body 93a, and the rotation restriction is released. As a result, the restriction on the rotation of the shaft 97a and the intermediate gear 97 fixed to the shaft 97a is released, and the restriction on the rotation of the second driven gear 92 meshing with the intermediate gear 97 is also released. When the first driven gear 91 rotates in this state, the second driven gear 92 rotates according to the rotation of the first driven gear 91.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, a spring 8a is interposed between the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 and the arms 98, 98 so as to urge the second driven gear 92 and the rack 11c in the meshing direction. It is disguised. Since the arms 98 and 98 are biased toward the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 by the spring 8a, the movement of the second driven gear 92 fixed to the shaft 92a provided on the arms 98 and 98 is performed. Accordingly, the column housing 11 also moves, and the meshing state between the second driven gear 92 and the rack 11c is always maintained.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the telescopic operation by the motion converting means 9. When performing a telescopic operation, the solenoid 93b of the rotation restricting means 93 is excited, the restriction of the rotation of the second driven gear 92 is released by the rotation restricting means 93, and the motor 6 is driven in this state. As the motor 6 rotates forward or backward, the first driven gear 91, the intermediate gear 97, and the second driven gear 92 rotate. In response to this rotation, the rack 11c exerts a force at the meshing portion with the second driven gear 92. In response, the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 moves in the axial direction. In response to this movement, the column housing 11 expands and contracts in the axial direction, and the steering wheel 10 moves forward or backward. As described above, the rotation of the motor 6 is converted into a telescopic operation by the motion conversion means 9.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the tilting operation by the motion converting means 9. When performing the tilt operation, the motor 6 is operated in a state where the solenoid 93b of the rotation restricting means 93 is demagnetized (a state where the rotation of the second driven gear 92 is restricted by restricting the rotation of the intermediate gear 97 by the rotation restricting body 93c). To drive. As the motor 6 rotates forward or backward, the first driven gear 91 rotates, and the intermediate gear 97 receives a force in a direction perpendicular to the meshing surface at the meshing portion with the first driven gear 91. By the action of this force, the arms 98 and 98 are united with the second driven gear 92 and the intermediate gear 97 to rotate about the shaft 91a of the first driven gear 91 as a pivot. In response to the movement of the second driven gear 92, the rack 11c with which the second driven gear 92 is engaged receives an upward or downward force, so that the column housing 11 pivots on the axis of the column housing 11 with the support pin 30 as a pivot. Tilt upward or downward within the plane of inclusion. As described above, the rotation of the motor 6 is converted into a tilt operation. When the second driven gear 92 and the arms 98 and 98 move away from the column housing 11, a downward force acts on the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 by the spring 8a as described above. Following the movement of the second driven gear 92, the column housing 11 tilts downward in a plane including the axis of the column housing 11 with the support pin 30 as a pivot, and the second driven gear 92 and the rack 11c. The meshing state can be kept good.

  The steering apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above has a simple configuration including the first driven gear 91, the second driven gear 92, the rotation restricting means 93, the intermediate gear 97, and the arms 98 and 98. Since the rotation of the single motor 6 is converted into the tilt operation and the telescopic operation using the means 9, the space occupied by the motor 6 and the motion conversion means 9 can be reduced, and the interior of the vehicle interior can be reduced. Sufficient space for the undercarriage of the driver can be secured. Moreover, the number of parts can be reduced, the assembly and assembling performance can be improved, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the arms 98 and 98 are urged toward the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 by the spring 8a, the second driven gear 92 fixed to the shaft 92a provided on the arms 98 and 98 is moved. Following this, the column housing 11 also moves, so that the meshed state between the second driven gear 92 and the rack 11c can always be maintained. As a result, the downward tilt operation and the telescopic operation by the rotation of the second driven gear 92 can be ensured.

  In the present embodiment, the rotation restricting means 93 restricts the rotation of the intermediate gear 97 and restricts the rotation of the second driven gear 92, but the rotation of the second driven gear 92 is restricted to the rotation restricting means 93. It is good also as a structure regulated by.

  In the above embodiment, the outer cylinder 11b of the column housing 11 is provided on the steering wheel 10 side, the inner cylinder 11a is provided on the steering mechanism 5, and the outer cylinder 11b moves in the axial direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the outer cylinder 11b is provided on the steering mechanism 5 side, the inner cylinder 11a is provided on the steering wheel 10, and the inner cylinder 11a moves in the axial direction. It may be configured.

  Needless to say, the present invention can be implemented in variously modified forms within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

It is a mimetic diagram showing composition of a steering device concerning the present invention. It is an expansion perspective view of the support part vicinity by an upper bracket. It is an expansion perspective view of the support part vicinity by an upper bracket. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a motion conversion means. It is explanatory drawing of the telescopic operation | movement by a motion conversion means. It is explanatory drawing of the tilt operation | movement by a motion conversion means. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the steering device which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a motion conversion means. It is explanatory drawing of the telescopic operation | movement by a motion conversion means. It is explanatory drawing of the tilt operation | movement by a motion conversion means.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering column, 2 Upper bracket (support bracket), 6 Motor, 61 Worm (drive gear), 7, 9 Motion conversion means, 71, 91 1st driven gear, 71b Large gear part, 71c Small gear part, 72, 92 Second driven gear, 73, 93 Rotation restricting means, 74 First link, 75 Third link, 75a Slider, 76 Second link, 76a Guide hole, 97 Intermediate gear, 98 Arm, 8 Bracket (restraint means), 8a Spring (Biasing means), 10 steering wheel (steering member), 11 column housing, 11a inner cylinder, 11b outer cylinder, 11c rack, 12 steering shaft

Claims (6)

  A column housing supported by a support bracket in an inclined manner inside the passenger compartment; and a steering shaft rotatably supported inside the column housing and having a steering member attached to a protruding end toward the upper portion. A steering apparatus configured to perform telescopic operation for extending and contracting in the axial direction and adjusting the position of the steering member, and tilt operation for tilting the column housing by a single motor provided on the support bracket. A second driven gear that meshes with a drive gear provided on the output shaft of the motor, and a second gear that meshes with a rack formed on the column housing and is rotatable with the rotation of the first driven gear. And the rotation of the second driven gear and the rotation of the motor in accordance with the restriction of the rotation. Steering apparatus comprising: a motion converting means for converting the COPIC operation.   The second driven gear meshes with the first driven gear, and the motion conversion means includes a first link connecting the shafts of the first driven gear and the second driven gear, and a shaft of the second driven gear. A second link having a guide hole along the longitudinal direction on the other side, a slider slidably held in the guide hole, and a shaft of the slider and the first driven gear. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third link to be connected and a rotation restricting means for restricting the rotation of the second driven gear.   The steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first driven gear is integrally provided with a large gear portion that meshes with the drive gear and a small gear portion that meshes with the second driven gear. .   The first driven gear is integrally provided with a large gear portion that meshes with the drive gear and a small gear portion having a smaller diameter than the large gear portion, and the motion conversion means includes the first driven gear and the first driven gear. An intermediate gear provided between the second driven gear, a large gear portion meshing with a small gear portion of the first driven gear, and a small gear portion meshing with the second driven gear; The shafts of the driven gear, the intermediate gear and the second driven gear are rotatably supported, the arm swingable around the axis of the first driven gear, and the rotation of the intermediate gear or the second driven gear are restricted, The steering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation restricting unit that restricts rotation of the second driven gear.   5. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a restraining unit that restrains the motion conversion unit to the column housing in order to maintain meshing between the second driven gear and the rack. Steering device.   5. The urging means for urging the motion conversion means toward the column housing in order to maintain the meshing between the second driven gear and the rack. The steering device according to one item.

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